Secret Science and Bizarre Beliefs: Moody Institute of Science Films

Sat, Mar 18
8:30PM
$10.00 RSVP (Limited Seating) Free to anyone dressed in a caveman

"Secret Science and Bizarre
Beliefs"
Moody Institute of Science
Films
Screens at Oddball
Films

On Saturday, March 18th at 8:30PM Oddball Films presents "Secret
Science and Bizarre Beliefs": Films from the Moody Institute of
Science at Oddball Films, 275 Capp St, San Francisco. Admission is
$10.00 RSVP(Limited Seating). Also screening will be the quirky quack
science clip "Ultraviolet Healing" and a special clip from the 1950s
TV kinescope "Science in Action" program shot in San Francisco at the
California Academy of Sciences.

"Secret Science and Bizarre Beliefs" is a mind-boggling collection of
1950s crackpot science films brought to you by the world's strangest
bible science film producers, The Moody Institute of Science.
Evangelist Erwin "The Million Volt Man" Moon stars in many of these
eye-popping classroom science films as he inhales helium, runs
electricity through his body, makes metal float in space, experiments
with electric eels and preaches god's creationist "intelligent
design" ideology.
Moon got his start In 1938 when he began traveling as a full-time as
evangelist demonstrating his "Sermons From Science" under the
auspices of The Moody Bible Institute. The next year, with the help
of businessmen from San Francisco, a SFS pavilion was built at the
1939 San Francisco World's Fair.
For nine months, Moon presented up to eight demonstrations each day,
seven days a week. The crowds were so large that demonstrations began
hours prior to the scheduled time because early arrivals had filled
the auditorium while others waited outside. With more than two tons
of equipment, most of it homemade, Moon performed such wonders as
frying an egg on a cold stove, lighting a bulb on his bare fingers,
and allowing one million volts of electricity to smash through his
body. Following the presentation he asked, "Can you believe these
miracles are the result of chance or accident? Or are they part of a
divine pattern?"

In 1945 The Moody Institute of Science was founded with a two-pronged
evangelistic approach incorporating films and live demonstrations.
Operating on a shoestring budget, The Moody Institute of Science
staff would remodel war surplus material and invent and build the
equipment to perform live demonstrations and produce films.
More than 6 million people have seen their live demonstrations since
1949 at the 1939 San Francisco World's Fair, the 1964-65 New York
World's Fair, the 1967 Montreal World's Fair and many more fairs and
expositions. Their classroom science films were marketed to schools
and churches across the United States and their biblical subtext hit
the viewer over the head with the proverbial hammer of faith, far
predating today's "debate" over "intelligent design".

Tonight's program features a sample of some of the quirkiest gems
from the Oddball Moody Science collection. Some program highlights
include:
"Primitive Man in a Modern World"(1959, Color) Is a bizarre and
baffling(i.e. "What the f*ck were they thinking when they made
this?") condescending examination of "primitive" peoples in South
America from the ancient Mayans to the coca chewing contemporary
Indians of Peru.
"Blind as a Bat" (1956, Color), The Moody Science bat truck goes on
location to study the secrets of bat navigation. Their in-house
mammal abuse experiments show us the science of bat radar.
"Mystery of Time" (1957, color) Watch Erwin Moon demonstrate the
theory of relativity-in 15 minutes!
"The Electric Eel" (1954, color)Irwin Moon shows us the electric eel
and demonstrates its amazing abilities to shock fish for food and to
use "radar" to find them. Don't miss the scene where he illuminates a
florescent light tube using his eel!
"Facts of Faith"(1956, Color) Mind-blowing science experiments
showcase Moon running thousands of volts of god's creation though his
entire body. A stunner!
"Snow"(1956, Color) "Snow, given to us by the hand of god" Brilliant
Kodachrome snowflake crystals. God made these!

Plus! Rare clips from the 1950s B+W kinescope of "Science in Action"
shot at the California Academy of Sciences including the Animal of
the Week! Also! rare silent clip of the quack science "Ultraviolet
Healing" film.

Venue:

Oddball Films
275 Capp Street
San Francisco
415-558-8117
www.oddballfilm.com

Off Mission between 17th and 18th, Mision and South Van Ness.

Additional Info:

415-558-8117
www.oddballfilm.com